Advent
beeswax, pigment, map, dress patterns on panel
(c) December 2009 Shannon Newby
In light of the devastation in Haiti, the Regent study body has been brainstorming and praying about how to react; how to interact; how to make sense of the tragedy…
The Regent Dean of Students shared with the student body about a recent conversation she had with poet and author, Luci Shaw. Luci recounted an image that has inspired some of her poetry. She recalled that in Lima, Peru – where rain is often in shortage, locals have learned to “harvest the fog.” They will set out rags on their laundry lines to soak in the dense fog, and later – wring them out into buckets.
We cannot understand why devastation to an already-impoversished nation has taken place. We cannot understand God’s role in this (and any attempts to place a “reason” on this tragedy is dangerous).
The above piece of artwork has similar themes. It is called Advent, and meant to be a visual abstraction of the Christmas story: the incarnation of Christ (Word becoming flesh). God has not forsaken us. He has dwelt among us and He is with us now.
In times of what seems like drought, let us harvest the fog. In the darkness, may we encounter the magnificent light of Christ. And may we take refuge in the incarnation, knowing that God is still with us.